On Friday, Gramm, of 244 North Main St., had gone to his mother's home to do some work on her computer. He saw that she was taking a new prescription medication and told her he did not want her taking it, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor did not identify the medication.

They argued and she left the living room, Walsh said. Gramm followed his mother into the kitchen where he grabbed her and hollered. When she screamed, Gramm covered her mouth with one hand and slapped her in the face, Walsh said.

"She could not remember if it was once or multiple times," said Walsh. "She was so scared she could not remember."

When the assault stopped, the woman started to call police and Gramm told her to stop.

"Don't you dare call the police. I'll end up in the jail for five years," the prosecutor said.

Police described a large bruise on the woman's left arm, the prosecutor said.

Police charged Gramm with assault and battery on a person older than 60 and intimidation of a witness.

Walsh asked Judge Douglas Stoddart to hold Gramm on $5,000 bail.

Stoddart instead released Gramm without bail and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation. Gramm is due back in court on Oct. 11 for a pretrial conference.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date crime news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW.